Do Air Purifiers Help With Mold?

Do you know that mold affects almost 47% of homes in America?

 

It’s a widespread household problem and causes potential health risks. But not everyone is aware of those risks.

 

Those risks include health problems as well as bad odors that can make you very uncomfortable.

 

Of course, air scrubber and purifier help with mold. These tools are effective in removing mold and stopping it from growing into bigger health problems.

 

Remember not all but top-quality purifiers are helpful.

 

Let’s dig in and find what mold is and which purifiers are best to get rid of airborne spores.

 

What is Mold?

 

Mold is a common type of fungus that thrives in damp environments. The most common places are bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. It can grow and spread very fast if not addressed timely. 

 

Mold releases tiny spores into the air that cause your immune system to react. These spores are more harmful to those with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. 

 

Primarily, it can enter your home through open windows, and doors. But it’s almost impossible for you to stop it from entering your home. So, you need to find ways like a mold air purifier to get rid of it when it does so.

 

Mold can be found in various colors such as white, green, orange, and black.

 

Black mold is the most toxic type of mold found in homes.

 

 

What Health Problems Can Black Mold Cause?

 

Here are the common health problems that mold can cause

 

• Sneezing
• Watery eye
• Skin rashes
• Itching
• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Headache
• Congestion
• Respiratory issues, to learn more you can read this article of ours: The Impact of Indoor Air Quality on Respiratory Health
• Fatigue

 

The effect of mold exposure isn’t the same for everyone. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to spores, you may experience some of the above symptoms.

 

How to Get Rid of Mold?

 

Here are simple steps to remove  mold:

1. Use a dry, soft cloth (microfiber) to dust off any loose debris or mold from the surface.
2. Then remove the piece of cloth from the affected area.
3. Put equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle.
4. Sprinkle this mixture onto the affected surface.
5. Scrub the moldy surface with the help of a sponge or brush.
6. Clean the surface with fresh water and wipe it with a piece of damp cloth.
7. Make sure the area is completely dry. Use fans or open windows if needed.

 

How Do Air Purifiers Help with Mold?

 

Tools like an air scrubber for mold or a purifier can play a significant role in addressing mold problems in your home. Generally, air purifiers improve indoor air quality by removing spores suspended in the air through a filtration system.

 

Here's how air purifiers can help with mold problems:

1. Capture Mold Spores The high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your purifier captures tiny airborne mold spores. As air passes through the purifier, the HEPA filter traps these tiny particles and prevents them from traveling back into the room. This reduces the overall concentration of mold spores in the air, reducing the risk of mold growth.
2. Neutralizing odors, high-quality air purifiers often come with activated carbon filters that effectively absorb and neutralize unpleasant odors produced by mold. Activated carbon works by attracting and bonding odor-causing molecules, thereby eliminating the musty odors that typically result from mold infestations.
3. Preventing the spread, carbon filter air purifiers trap mold spores, helping to prevent them from spreading to other parts of your home. Because the purifier continuously purifies the air, it captures spores before they can deposit on surfaces and form new colonies.
4. Continuous filtration, by constantly cycling through high-efficiency air filters and carbon filters, the purifier ensures that mold spores and other airborne contaminants are continuously removed.

 

For most air purifiers, pollutants are removed through physical filtration methods. These machines work on the principle of interception, where airborne particles are collected when they come into contact with a surface that can intercept them.

 

A common method of physical filtration is the HEPA filter, or High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter. HEPA filters trap very small particles, including mold spores and other allergens, in the filter material.

 

Using an air purifier can improve indoor air quality by trapping mold spores. However, you are still exposed to other indoor air pollutants that are not captured.

 

Therefore, air purifiers can remove mold from your surroundings, but they cannot remove all spores from your home. Additionally, mold can grow and spread quickly, and air purifiers are unable to stop its growth due to their lack of detection capabilities.

 

Therefore, the most effective air purifiers may be able to reduce the number of mold spores floating around your home, but they will not be able to eliminate them completely.

 

 

What's the Best Air Purifier for Mold?

 

People tend to buy a purifier or scrubber immediately when they see an air scrubber for sale without thinking about its quality. If you do the same, you may need to regret it later.

 

Different types of air scrubber filters and mold air purifiers come with different features. And they all claim to remove the mold spores effectively. But not all are up to mark.

 

So, you need to figure out which one is the best fit for you.

 

There are different types of purifiers in the market.

 

Here are the most popular ones…

 

1. HEPA Air Purifiers

 

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters perform best when purifying air. They remove tinies particles up to 0.3 micrometers. 

 

These are incredibly effective as they can easily capture 99.97 percent of mod particles including black mold spores, pollen, and dust particles.

 

You can notice remarkable differences in your indoor quality when using these HEPA filters.

 

Click here to buy AlorairScrubber's top pick for you.

 

 

2. UV-C A Purifiers

 

Another important purifier you see in the market is the UV-C purifier. This type of purifier uses a highly technical approach to address fungus and bacteria-related issues.

 

These purifiers kill bacteria and mold spores by destroying their DNA with the help of UV (ultraviolet) light.

 

These are also excellent mold killers. They are mostly used in hospital laboratories. But you can use them to purify your indoor air.

 

3. Ozone Generators

 

One generator, as the name suggests, produces ozone which kills mold fungi, bacteria, or other airborne microorganisms.

 

However, you know ozone itself can cause respiratory irritation for humans as well as pets. So, this is not a highly recommended option, particularly for household purposes.

 

4. Activated Carbon Filters

 

You know spores sometimes cause severe bad odors. These purifiers are extremely good at removing odors and chemical particles from the air.

 

They come with highly porous carbon-activated filters which are really effective in trapping odors, gasses, and other related chemical compounds.

 

However, they are not as good as HEPA and UV-C filters when it comes to removing mold spores from the air.

 

The best places to use such filters are basements. Activated carbon filters help a smelly basement smell fresh again.

 

5. Hybrid Purifiers

 

Hybrid purifiers offer comprehensive air purification solutions. They merge different air filtration methodologies such as HEPA, UV-C, and activated carbon into a single unit.

 

These are very effective in removing mold, and killing other harmful microorganisms. Also, they neutralize odors by absorbing all the chemicals that cause smell.

 

They provide a high level of indoor air purification. You can use them wherever you want. The best places to use hybrid purifiers are the places with severe mold issues.

 

AlorairScrubber is your trusted place to buy purifiers and scrubbers for indoor, commercial as well industrial uses.

 

At AlorairScrubber, we offer the best quality air scrubbers and purifiers. Explore our website to learn more about our products and services. Contact us anytime if you have questions or need help.

 

 

FAQs

 

How Effective are Air Purifiers for Mold?

 

HEPA air srubbers excel at capturing mold spores. A 2009 study demonstrated that HEPA filtration significantly lowered mold counts and alleviated symptoms in children with mold allergies. However, if mold is already present in your home, a HEPA purifier won't eliminate the existing mold growth.

 

Is a Dehumidifier or Air Purifier Better for Mold?

 

If you’re primarily worried about dampness and mold growth, a dehumidifier is likely the better solution. On the other hand, if you’re addressing allergies, asthma, or respiratory problems from airborne pollutants, an air purifier could be more effective.

 

How can you Detect Mold in Your House?

 

To identify mold, inspect surfaces for discoloration with a slimy, fuzzy, or powdery texture. Mold may also develop in less visible areas like behind wallpaper, inside vents, or in attics and basements. Begin by checking your home or apartment for leaking pipes or other sources of moisture.

 

Conclusion

 

An air scrubber or purifier can be very effective in removing mold from indoor air. Mold grows and spreads in wet environments. The conditions become ideal in summer when humidity increases in the air.

 

The quality of indoor air is crucial for health. It is almost impossible to stop mold from growing and spreading. The best practice is to use an air scrubber for mold or mold air purifiers.